Looking up at the rotunda in the US Capitol building

State & Local Advocacy

From DC insight to California consulting, we represent you coast-to-coast.

ArentFox Schiff has an active and well-regarded state and local advocacy practice. Headquartered in Washington, DC, where the firm was founded, we maintain diverse relationships throughout the District of Columbia Government, including the mayor’s office, numerous executive agencies, the Attorney General’s office, the City Council, and with the District’s representative in Congress. We also maintain strong relationships with residents and interest groups, including the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, across DC’s eight wards. This grants us unparalleled access into the inner workings of the local government, as well as insight into and consideration for the interests of DC residents and the ability to serve as a liaison between the community and our clients.

In addition to our work in the District, we routinely represent clients at state and local levels across the country ranging from health care and energy in Pennsylvania to land use and development in California.

    Perspectives on State & Local Advocacy

    DC Business & Policy

    A destination firm for companies and organizations operating in the Nation’s Capital, ArentFox Schiff provides regulatory, advocacy, and community relations services where the federal and local governments intersect. Our team has helped shape and build many of the most important parts of the District that define how people live and work, from DC United’s Audi Field soccer stadium and the Shakespeare Theatre, to the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center and National Public Radio’s headquarters. We help clients across industries navigate regulatory requirements and identify opportunities to advance their business interests.

    We understand how things work in DC. Our cross-disciplinary team, which includes former DC Councilmember David Grosso as well as the former Chief Counsel and Legislative Director to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Democratic Staff Director of the House DC Subcommittee, Jon Bouker, combines decades of experience in a range of practice areas, rooted in an understanding of the nuances of DC policy, law, and regulations. We help clients respond to evolving circumstances and emerging opportunities, providing counsel in the areas of government relations, economic development, community relations, education policy, cannabis law, finance, health care, labor and employment, real estate, tax, and more. We stand apart because of the comprehensive nature of services we offer; the depth and breadth of our experience providing legal and advocacy services in the District of Columbia allows us to address any regulatory or legislative issue that may arise, and our vast networks ensure that we have the contacts to support your business needs.

    Who We Help

    • Arts & Cultural Institutions & Museums
    • Borrowers & Lenders
    • Cannabis Companies & Associations
    • Charter Schools
    • Contractors & Developers
    • Hospitals & Health Systems
    • International Businesses
    • Nonprofits
    • Public Buildings
    • Public Policy Groups
    • Public-Private Partnerships
    • Trade Associations

    State & Local Advocacy Experience

    Public Buildings and Economic Development

    • Passage of HR 3699, the historic “Federal and District of Columbia Government Real Property Act of 2005,” which transfers large parcels of land, including Poplar Point on the Anacostia River and Reservation 13 adjacent to RFK Stadium, from the federal government to the District government for economic development.
    • Passage of the $1.8 billion Southeast Federal Center development next to the Washington Navy Yard, now known as “The Yards.”
    • Securing a $30 million grant to expand the Shakespeare Theater in Washington’s Penn Quarter neighborhood.
    • Securing $40 million for Arena Stage’s $100 million redevelopment in Southwest Washington, DC.
    • Passage of a $1 million annual tax abatement for a large nonprofit trade association in exchange for bringing even greater convention and tourist revenue to Washington, DC.
    • Passage of a $50 million revenue bond to renovate the Verizon Center, Washington, DC’s premier sports and entertainment arena.
    • Financing the District’s $611 million stadium for the Washington Nationals.
    • Authorization of numerous revenue bond financing projects, tax exemptions, and property dispositions.
    • A leading design professional in the negotiation of his contract with the District of Columbia Courts for the renovation of the Old DC Courthouse; and
    • The owner/developer in the negotiation of project agreements for the renovation of space leased to the University of the District of Columbia.

    Health Care

    • Securing record funding for the Food is Medicine program in the District of Columbia.
    • Representing the Delaware Valley Chapter of the American Hemophilia Association before the Pennsylvania State Legislature regarding health insurance coverage requirements.
    • Advocating before the Legislature and Executive Branch agencies in Pennsylvania for important municipal finance and state pension policy reforms.
    • Routinely assisting clients with state Medicaid coverage disputes, as well as with cases involving fraud and abuse.
    • Successfully working with clients to obtain coverage and payment of new therapies by state Medicaid programs.

    Energy

    • Planning and administering public forums in Pennsylvania to increase awareness of best practices employed by the natural gas industry with regard to the Marcellus Shale reserve.
    • Securing an exemption for a scientific appliance manufacturer from new energy efficiency standards imposed by the State of Maryland.
    • Passage of legislation to provide equitable treatment of retail energy providers with respect to alternative energy credits.

    Land Use & Zoning

    • Securing approvals from the City of Menlo Park for high-profile projects such as Facebook Headquarters, Menlo Gateway, and mixed-use transit-oriented developments.
    • Procuring approval to allow the conversion of an aged downtown furniture mart to office and technology uses, now Twitter’s corporate headquarters.

     

    Key Contacts